Effectiveness of back school for treatment of pain and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of back school to exercise and physical treatment modalities in relieving pain and improving the functional status of patients with chronic low back pain.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Patients: A total of 146 patients with chronic low back pain were enrolled in the study.

Methods: Subjects were divided into 2 groups: the back school group received exercise, physical treatment modalities and a back school programme; and the control group received exercise and physical treatment modalities. Treatment efficacy was evaluated at the end of treatment and 3 months post-treatment, in terms of pain, measured with the Visual Analogue Scale, and functional status, measured with the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire.

Results: In both groups, Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire were significantly reduced after therapy (p < 0.01), but the difference between the scores at the end of treatment and 3 months post-treatment was not significant. There was a significant improvement in Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire in the back school group compared with the control group at the end of therapy and 3 months post-treatment (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The addition of back school was more effective than exercise and physical treatment modalities alone in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain.